A day trip to the beach seems unlikely for Queenslanders on their first day of freedom with a cold snap tipped to plummet minimum temperatures into single digits over the weekend.
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The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) even expects sub-zero figures near the NSW border while frost is expected along the Darling Downs.
The cold snap caused by a low trough moving in from the southeast, that will also include storms and damaging winds on Thursday, could not be more ill-timed.
After weeks of stay-at-home restrictions, Queenslanders will be able to hit the beach, parks and even have a picnic from this weekend.
Residents can wander up to 50km from home but only mingle with members of the same household in public.
But choosing what time to head-out, where to go and what to pack will be a mission in itself.
Overnight temperatures on the Gold Coast are expected to drop to just seven degrees on Saturday while it will be a brisk nine degrees in Brisbane and eight on the Sunshine Coast.
The maximum temperatures will also take a hit with the Gold Coast dipping to 23 on Saturday and 22 degrees in Brisbane.
It may pay to pack not just a picnic blanket but also one for yourself with the temperature in the Granite belt town of Stanthorpe to hit a low of minus two degrees on Saturday and Sunday with a high of just 15.
"The Darling Downs will see that cold air quite early on Friday and a significant drop in their maximum temperatures," said BOM forecaster Peter Markworth.
"Stanthorpe is looking at a 10 degree drop in its maximum from 25 to 15 on Friday and they can expect a minimum of negative two degrees on Saturday morning."
He said, except for far north Queensland, minimum temperatures across the state will be either low teens or, predominantly, single digits.
Australian Associated Press
